With that kind of budget it would be more cost effective to upgrade your headphone than your amp.

Actually, I have no desire to upgrade my phones yet. I like the sound signature & want to see how good they sound with a good amp. Plus my other hobby is recording concerts & I've run AKG mics for years. I have a pair of HD598's that I really need to return or sell. I prefer the AKG house sound & have listened to my recordings over tubes in my main system for as long as I've recorded concerts.

So this is with a Dolby 5.1 source? I'm curious, as I have a few, and could try it with a foobar2000 component, if I can get it set up correctly. Curious to hear more details about your experience when you have the time.

So this is with a Dolby 5.1 source? I'm curious, as I have a few, and could try it with a foobar2000 component, if I can get it set up correctly. Curious to hear more details about your experience when you have the time.

No, it's just an effect thing. Sounds like you're in a giant theatre. It's weird.

So I've just got myself a FiiO X3, I'd try to plug it to my Q701 and see how the pairing perform when I get back to my home country, where my Q701 setup is. The X3 has got enough power to drive the HD800 to an ear-damaging volume, though it doesn't sound good at all. But I have a hunch that the X3 would be a good match for the Q701.

FuzzieKiwi,

I noticed in your sig that the Magni is in your wishlist, if you are planning to use it to drive the Q701, may I suggest you to rethink that plan? It's not a bad pairing, but at times can be a bit sibilant. The Vali might be a better choice (I've never heard it though). Those who have heard the pairing may be able to give a better insight.

So I've just got myself a FiiO X3, I'd try to plug it to my Q701 and see how the pairing perform when I get back to my home country, where my Q701 setup is. The X3 has got enough power to drive the HD800 to an ear-damaging volume, though it doesn't sound good at all. But I have a hunch that the X3 would be a good match for the Q701.

FuzzieKiwi,

I noticed in your sig that the Magni is in your wishlist, if you are planning to use it to drive the Q701, may I suggest you to rethink that plan? It's not a bad pairing, but at times can be a bit sibilant. The Vali might be a better choice (I've never heard it though). Those who have heard the pairing may be able to give a better insight.

I haven't had time to change my signature, I will later but yes I am now going for a Vali.

So I've just got myself a FiiO X3, I'd try to plug it to my Q701 and see how the pairing perform when I get back to my home country, where my Q701 setup is. The X3 has got enough power to drive the HD800 to an ear-damaging volume, though it doesn't sound good at all. But I have a hunch that the X3 would be a good match for the Q701.

Not a great pairing imo. The amp section is probably the cause, so you might need another amp to get the best out of it.

Games, movies. It simulates home theater surround. There are PC soundcards that do it, and a few console devices (of which I currently and greedily/stupidly have 3-4 of them). I have a guide on it in my "if I knew then..." Link in my signature, with samples.